“I am reminded of Gandhi’s comment that first they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they attack you, then you win,” Froelich said. “I think we’re in stage three.”

Veteran Monmouth County Purchasing Director Gerri Popkin surprisingly found herself the center of a recent political controversy as Democratic Freeholder candidate Brian Froelich questioned whether Popkin, who holds leadership positions in the Republican Party, could serve without a conflict of interest.Monmouth County / www.visitmonmouth.com

In recent weeks, Froelich has questioned whether Gerri Popkin, longtime director of purchasing, should continue to serve in that role while also holding leadership positions in the county Republican Party.

“…facts indicate that the connection between political fundraising and purchasing may be longstanding as well as deep,” Froelich wrote in July. “Popkin has been Monmouth County purchasing director for 26 years, with responsibility for purchasing $100 million in goods and services annually. She also is a longtime, active and important Republican political operative.”

Popkin is currently first vice president of the Monmouth County Affiliated Republican Club, and worked for 23 years as a campaign coordinator for the party. She also serves as region 5 vice president of the New Jersey Federation of Republican Women

Monmouth County Republican Chairman John Bennett said Popkin is not involved in raising money for Republican candidates.

“I can tell you as the county chairman, Gerri Popkin is not involved in fundraising in any way,” Bennett said. “As far as contacting vendors for donations to the party or candidates, it does not occur.”

“I’m not saying there is any wrong doing in place,” Froelich said. “I’m saying this is a conflict and you should not put yourself in this position. The people who write fundraising checks are also competing for county contracts.”

In a strongly worded letter, Monmouth County Counsel Andrea Bazer warned Froelich that his accusations could be considered libel.

“One part of your letter, inaccurately alleging Director Popkin’s use of her county position for political fundraising is without merit and is without even a modicum of factual support,” Bazer wrote. “I caution you to take care with your comments as it is my opinion that you are dangerously close to, if not over the line of, committing a libelous and defamatory act against Director Popkin.”

Froelich said the letter was inappropriate.

“I was rendering an opinion, so it definitely wasn’t defamation,” Froelich said. “Her letter was so out of line, it was improper. To receive a threatening letter from an attorney about a newspaper opinion article, that’s chilling.”

Bennett said Froelich’s attacks on county employees were out of line.

“They are bankrupt of issues, that is why they’re attack on the Freeholders involves employees who are not seeking any office,” Bennett said. “Attacking an employee is not right, but they have nothing else. If they really feel like somebody is doing something wrong, they should go to the prosecutor.”

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Monmouth County officials have defended their purchasing policies as ethically sound, safeguarded from bid rigging and collusion by being passed through multiple hands before vendors are chosen.

The current allegations are the latest in a line of criticism from Froelich, who over the past few months has pushed the sitting Freeholders on their acceptance of donations from the troubled Birdsall Services Group and questioned whether the format of the county’s requests for bids favors some companies over another.

County spokesperson Laura Kirkpatrick suggested Froelich’s complaints are motivated by the upcoming elections.

“This back-and-forth between the candidates is a matter for the political arena,” Kirkpatrick said in an email.

NJ.com made several attempts to contact Gerri Popkin for comment, which were unsuccessful.